Images: Photo Contest Finalists

Up, up and away! I was about to take a photo of this squirrel as it sat on my deck eating seeds when all of a sudden it decided to leap across to the other rail.Viana Oliver of Winfield

In February 2004, a siamese cat named Déjà rests with an idol sculpture in Wicker Park, Chicago home.Bill Murray of Palatine

The nearby buildings are reflected in "The Bean" sculpture in Chicago last month.Tracy R Sefcik of Wheeling

I captured this picture of a hummingbird while at the Phoenix Botanic Garden a couple of springs ago. We were there for baseball spring training, but there is much more to see out there in addition to the games.Milton Hoskins of Hampshire

This picture was shot last spring in Rutland Forest Preserve in Hampshire, IL.Allison M. Kramer of Carpentersville

A garden of sea anemones at the New Jersey Aquarium in Camden last month.Cornelius DuBose of Mundelein

A fence stands in the sand near a lake in Seaside, Florida. The lake in the background was connected to the ocean and is called a dune lake.Colin Morabito of Libertyville

"Shea," one of our cats, was on this particular day was basking in the warm sunlight beaming through our south facing window.Tony Pocewicz of Carpentersville

The Village of Long Grove's iconic covered bridge is seen behind the long grass on a foggy morning in late November.Bob Denaro of Long Grove

This Christmas tree through a water glass, was taken after clearing the dining room table from Christmas dinner.Gib Van Dine of West Chicago

We spotted this Coyote walking through our back yard on Christmas morning. I wasn´t able to take his photo at that time, but right after New Year´s he again appeared in our back yard. He was lying down and sunning himself. After a while he got up and trotted across our yard. That is when this photo was taken.Richard M. Ryan of Naperville

A dog barks at strangers near Big Sur, California last June. A man and his dog were watching for whales on the Pacific coast.Susan Voss of Elk Grove Village

Each week you submit your favorite photo. we pick the best of the bunch and select 12 finlaists. here are the finalists for the week of jan. 7. think you have a picture that could be a contender in our contest?

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